Painting the cowling

[mosquito13]

The clear coat has deteriorated on the top. Got a genuine yamaha paint kit off amazon(rattle can stuff). Plan is this Sat. to tape off the top . Sand it down smooth going up  to 900 wet/dry. Hit it with one coat primer. 3-4 coats paint, with a sand of 900 on coat 1 and two. Then 3-4 coats clear .  Will try to remember to take some pics as I go. Hope I can get it done over the weekend. Should be if the dry times on the cans are correct.

[Juan]

Good luck. I bought a couple of cans of the OEM spay paint when I had my Yamaha and it was close but never perfectly matched the existing paint shade. Probably because of the sun fading. You may have to paint the whole thing.

[985crabs]

Let us know how that goes. My cowling has scratches all over it from the previous owner being an orangutan or something. I don't know. It's always bothered me so I bought the paint and clear coat. Just never had the time or the courage to attempt it.

[mosquito13]

Before pic. Sanding took all of Saturday. Did two coats of primer and then hit it with 600 wet. Three coats of paint it was looking fantastic. I got it done today but forgot to get a picture. Little tip buy the three can paint kit from yamaha. I used a clear coat I have been real happy with (Diamond Clear) on my cars and it did not like the yamaha paint. Not horrible but I will see it and know I knew better them mix brands of coatings...

[mosquito13]

more pics. New paint is a bit more blue , but the cowling has been in the Florida sun for years. I got a quote to do cowl with new sticker set for $300. That was a good price and in hindsight should have gone that way . Paint and sticker kit is around $100 and I killed 8 hours . That said I only did the top and down the sides maybe 3 inches. Just paint no sticker set needed that way.

8779687962

comerica bank close to me

[985crabs]

Good work Skeeter! What you've done looks great. I think I have the same motor. Only thing is, I thinks my scratches are deep enough that they'd have to be filled with something before all the sanding and they are in multiple areas. I'm not sure I could get away with just doing part, especially if the paint does match exactly due to sun fade. Suddenly, your $300 price is looking really good.

[mosquito13]

Thanks! I had to skim coat two spots before the primer coats. Both were where Yamaha had used bondo in actual creases. I was too agressive with the 220 on first sanding on those spots, can see them in the sanding pic... Weird cause you can not see them from the inside, so must of been gouges more then scratches.